Human Tongue - Structure and Diagram: Functions & Diagram

What Is the Human Tongue?

The human tongue is a muscular organ located in the mouth. Different parts of it enable it to perform its varied functions. The tongue performs important functions, which include speech, taste, and swallowing, which is mostly carried out in coordination. It forms words by articulating sounds, identifies taste, and participates in swallowing movements to transfer food.

Importance of the Tongue

The importance of tongue includes:

• Essential for articulation of speech

• Detects taste and food quality

• Aids swallowing and food manipulation

• Helps maintain oral hygiene by mixing food with saliva

Anatomy of the Tongue

The anatomy of the tongue can be possibly approached to include its external and internal structures, which in play gives the tongue a unifying function.

External Structure

The external structure deals with the visible parts of the tongue. This plays an important part not only in enabling the organ to move but also in interacting with the oral cavity.

• Apex: The anterior, free-moving part of the tongue.

• Body: The main, middle part of the tongue.

• Root: The posterior part attached to the floor of the mouth.

Internal Structure

The internal structure is made up of various muscles and papillae that aid in executing functions such as taste, speech, and swallowing.

• Intrinsic Muscles: Contribute to the shape of the tongue and are responsible for its precise movements.

• Extrinsic Muscles: These attach the tongue to other structures and permit broader movements such as protrusion and retraction.

Functions of the Tongue

The tongue performs several functions that are crucial to various physiological processes.

Taste Buds and Taste Zones:

• Sensory organs are small, lingual papillae, each of which allows the perception of the five taste sensations: sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami.

• The receptor cells in the taste buds send signals to the brain and recognise different tastes.

Speech

• As the tongue is busy moving and going to its proper locations, it is what makes pronunciation and articulation of speech very vital.

Swallowing (Deglutition)

• The tongue functions in manipulating food by moving it towards the back of the mouth and the pharynx, for proper digestion before swallowing.

Sensory Functions

• The tongue finds out the temperature and texture, hence creating a puzzling sensory vision of eating.

Digestive Role

• The tongue cleans the mouth by mixing the food with saliva and aids digestion.

• Several blood vessels and nerves found support its functioning and health.

Blood Supply of the Tongue

The blood supply supports the functioning of the tongue and its health.

• The lingual artery and the sublingual artery supply blood to the tongue.

• Blood from the tongue drains through the lingual veins.

Nerve Innervations of the Tongue

The nerve innervations of the tongue includes:

Sensory Nerves

• Include nerves of taste and common sensation.

Motor Nerves

• Include motor nerves supplying the intrinsic and extrinsic muscles of the tongue.

• These nerves play a vital role in the various actions of the tongue.

Common Disorders Of The Tongue

Some of the common disorder of the tongue are:

Ankyloglossia

• Restricted tongue mobility due to a short lingual frenulum.

Macroglossia

• Enlargement of the tongue.

Glossitis

• Inflammation of the tongue.

Oral Thrush

• White patches on the tongue due to fungal infection.

Maintaining Tongue Health

The health of the tongue is essential for total oral health and function.

• Cleaning Regularly: The tongue is brushed to remove debris and bacteria.

• Balanced Diet: It helps in providing adequate nourishment for the upkeep and maintenance of the tongue.

• Dental Visits: Regular checkups ensure that conditions get detected and are treated well in time before developing into full-blown problems.

Human Tongue NEET MCQs (With Answers & Explanations)

Important questions asked in NEET from this topic are:

• Anatomy of the tongue

• Blood and nerve innervations of the mouth

Practice Questions for NEET

Q1. Which of the following structure controls the peristaltic movement of alimentary canal?

1. Myenteric plexus

2. Auerbach plexus

3. Meissner’s plexus

4. Both 1 and 2

Correct answer: 4) Both 1 and 2

Explanation:

Food is moved via peristalsis, which begins in the oesophagus and continues in the small and large intestines. Chyme, a liquid combination of food and gastric fluids, is mixed and moved back and forth in the small intestine by peristalsis. Peristalsis aids in the large intestine's absorption of water from undigested meals.

Hence, the correct answer is option 4) Both 1 and 2.

Q2. The chemical process of digestion is initiated in the oral cavity by the hydrolytic action of the carbohydrate-splitting enzyme called

1. Salivary amylase

2. Pepsin

3. Trypsin

4. Carboxypeptidase

Correct answer: 1) Salivary amylase

Explanation:

The salivary amylase (ptyalin) enzyme starts the chemical process of digestion in the mouth cavity. Complex carbohydrates like starch are broken down by this enzyme into simpler sugars like maltose. Salivary amylase breaks down the carbohydrates in food as it is chewed and combined with saliva, initiating the process of digestion. This enables the body to start using carbs as fuel before the food ever gets to the stomach.

Hence, the correct answer is option 1)Salivary amylase

Q3. Which of the following is not a component of saliva?

1. Electrolytes Na+, K+, Cl- and HCO3- ions

2. Ptyalin / salivary amylase

3. Mucin, lysozyme and thiocyanate ions

4. Antibody (IgG)

Correct answer: 4) Antibody (IgG)

Explanation:

Numerous electrolytes, such as sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, bicarbonate, and phosphates, make up saliva. Saliva also contains proteins, enzymes, mucins, immunoglobulins, and nitrogenous substances like ammonia and urea.

Hence, the correct answer is option 4) Antibody (IgG).

Also Read:

• MCQs on Process of Digestion in Mouth

• Alimentary Canal

• Salivary Glands

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